First Aid Kit for the Outdoors
What should be in an Outdoor First Aid Kit?
Here I look at what you should reasonably consider carrying as a first-aider in the great British outdoors – for walkers, climbers, runners & cyclists. I haven’t suggested something for every conceivable situation since often you will have to use your initiative, or simply make do. And anyway, if you end up packing all your fears, you’ll simply pack a first aid kit that is so large you’d just leave it at home!
Individual First Aid Kit for the UK for Walkers, Climbers, and Mountaineers
This is what I might carry as a walker or climber at the local crag for the day. As a runner, or cyclist my kit may vary slightly. A key consideration here is that exposure to the environment can be the most dangerous factor affecting you and your casualty’s safety and situation. Also it is presumed here that you will be in a remote environment away from shelter. And naturally the best thing that you can invest in is First Aid Training!
1 x half roll mat
1 x survival bag / blizzard bag / group shelter (depending on group size)
2m of Gaffa tape rolled around a water bottle
1 x mobile phone (kept inside a plastic wallet)
2 x pairs of protective nitrile gloves
several low adherent pads (different sizes)
1 x sterile trauma dressing
2 x packs of steri-strips
1 x crepe bandage/cohesive conforming bandage
10 x plasters
3 x antiseptic wipes
1 x tube of Savlon antiseptic cream
1 x packet second skin / moleskin
1 x blister kit – eg Compede
3 x triangular bandages
1 x packet of ibuprofen*
1 x packet of paracetomol
1 x packet of anti-histamine tablets*
4 x aspirin tablets
1 x pencil / write in the rain pen
1 x tough cut scissors
2 x casualty cards
hypo-treatment – packet of sweets/glucogel
Some people swear by SAM splints too and wouldn’t go anywhere without them. Personally, in a bid to cut down on how much I carry, I normally prefer to make best use of my half roll mat, before carrying one of these. (But, when I have a larger bag, working as a mountain leader for example, I do now carry one).
First Aid Kit for Fell Runners
1 x half roll mat/sit mat
1 x survival bag + spare layer
2 x chemical heat pads
1 x mobile phone (kept inside a plastic wallet)
1 x pair of protective nitrile gloves
2 x triangular bandages
1 x packet of ibuprofen*
1 x packet of paracetomol
4 x aspirin tablets
1 x pencil / write in the rain pen
1 x casualty cards
hypo-treatment – packet of sweets/glucogel
As an event marshal you will be carrying a proper pack and won’t be limited by weight so much, and so you would be expected to carry more kit that would include wound dressings and even more layers. Some club runners also take on the responsibility as a group firstaider and carry a small pack, in which case you’d want to also include a crepe bandage/cohesive conforming bandage and a SAM splint too maybe.
First Aid Kit for Mountain Bikers & Cyclists
I’m a keen cyclist (mountain & gravel biking) and also a MIAS Level 2 qualified leader. I’m really conscious that on a winter day hypothermia is potentially the greatest risk and so here I have described what I might realistically carry on a winter day’s ride as well as a summer’s day.
1 x half roll mat (90 x 55cm – winter)
1 x survival bag / blizzard bag / group shelter (depending on group size – winter)
1 x spare warm layer & buff (winter)
2m of Gorilla tape (kept in tool roll)
1 x mobile phone (kept inside a plastic wallet)
1 x pair of protective nitrile gloves
1 x low adherent pads
1 x sterile trauma dressing
1 x spare inner tube which can be used as a tourniquet (in extreme circumstances)
2 x packs of steri-strips
1 x crepe bandage/cohesive conforming bandage
2 x antiseptic wipes
1 x triangular bandage
1 x packet of paracetomol
1 x pencil / write in the rain pen
1 x tweezers
1 x combi tool/knife (kept in tool roll)
2 x casualty cards
hypo-treatment – packet of sweets/glucogel
It is cheapest to buy these as individual items of first aid kit from the chemists / pharmacy / online suppliers.
*As a first-aider it is entirely reasonable to offer a couple of paracetamol for someone in pain. Ibuprofen however can have contra-indications and even act as an anti-coagulant, and so I only carry this for myself.
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